Toronto 2026/Ward 19/Mohammad Shabani
Running for
Councillor
Ward 19
Beaches-East York
Days until polls open
0

About Mohammad

Written by Mohammad Shabani in answer to our questionnaire, and published as given. Not our description of them.

Mohammad Shabani is a long-time local resident running as a candidate for Beaches-East York (Ward 19) in the Toronto Municipal Election. Driven by a deep love for his neighbourhood, his campaign focuses on bold, practical solutions aimed at fixing local basics and fostering a safer, more affordable community tailored for children, seniors, and young families. Shabani’s comprehensive municipal platform covers key urban issues through targeted strategies, including: The High Rise Hub and a dedicated Housing Strategy Transportation Strategy improvements Public Health and Safety initiatives The establishment of a Toronto Community Investment Bank Modernizing local democracy via The Enhanced Dual Expression Voting System (E-DEV) He is actively seeking the trust and confidence of Ward 19 voters ahead of the election on October 26th.

Our questionnaire

Where Mohammad Shabani stands

Mohammad Shabani’s own answers to the questions we put to every candidate, published as given — including, where they wrote one, their reasoning in their own words.

Five decisions facing the next council

Should Toronto permit substantially more housing as-of-right in every ward, including areas currently dominated by detached and semi-detached homes?

  • Mohammad Shabani
    No

    I favor a different approach. Instead of broad "as-of-right" private upzoning, my platform proposes the "Vienna Model" where the city acts as the developer of affordable housing on public land, alongside mixed-use rezoning to create walkable "15-minute" neighbourhoods.

When a person living in a park has been offered an available indoor space that meets their accessibility, safety and household needs, should the city require them to leave the encampment?

  • Mohammad Shabani
    No

    My platform does not contain an explicit policy on enforcing park encampment evictions. However, my Public Health and Safety and Housing strategies heavily prioritize human dignity, public ownership, and building permanent city-owned, mixed-income housing over temporary ineffective fixes.

Should Toronto introduce road-pricing measures, such as congestion charges or tolls, if the revenue is dedicated to transportation improvements?

  • Mohammad Shabani
    Yes

    Yes, I explicitly support road-pricing. My Transportation Strategy includes implementing "Downtown Driving Fees," requiring a digital toll (similar to London or Stockholm) to drive into downtown Toronto during rush hour to actively reduce traffic. Using the funds to improve public transportation.

Should Toronto raise additional local revenue to address its infrastructure repair backlog rather than defer maintenance while seeking funding from other governments?

  • Mohammad Shabani
    Yes

    I strongly support raising local revenue rather than waiting for senior governments. My platform focuses on local funding mechanisms, including implementing "Downtown Driving Fees" and establishing a city-owned Toronto Community Investment Bank (TCIB) to fund infrastructure and transit directly.

Should Toronto publish project-level budgets, schedules and performance updates for all major capital projects?

  • Mohammad Shabani
    Yes

    Yes. I do support project's progress reports done quarterly similar to publicly traded companies with financial details and key performances indicators.

Public safety and public space

Which approach should receive the greatest additional investment to improve public safety?

  • Mohammad Shabani
    Mental-health response, addiction treatment and youth intervention

    My platform combines safety with public health under a dedicated "Public Health and Safety" strategy. Rather than leaning on traditional enforcement, My campaign heavily emphasizes preventative social fixes, human dignity, and building long-term community care infrastructure.

Over the next council term, the Toronto Police Service budget should:

  • Mohammad Shabani
    Decrease after inflation, with some responsibilities and funding transferred to civilian services

    My platform combines safety with public health, focusing on preventative social care and housing rather than expanding traditional policing. My policiy explicitly champions shifting resources to address the root systemic causes of community crises.

How should Toronto govern automated licence-plate readers and similar surveillance technology used on public streets?

  • Mohammad Shabani
    Establish citywide limits on access, retention, auditing and data sharing

    While my platform does not explicitly address license-plate readers, I strongly champion data governance and transparency. Through my E-DEV system, I advocate for strict digital oversight and giving citizens direct control over how city technologies and public data are managed.

Transit and transportation

What should receive the greatest share of the next available transit funding?

  • Mohammad Shabani
    New rapid-transit lines and extensions

    I would prioritize Expansion. My platform emphasizes bold structural growth, such as building a "Don Valley Crosstown" line from Beaches-East York to downtown, funded through my proposed local transit bonds (Toronto Community Investment Bank) and rush-hour driving fees.

When there is not enough street space for every use, which should generally receive priority?

  • Mohammad Shabani
    Transit, walking and cycling

    I strongly prioritize Passenger capacity (transit, walking, and cycling). I do call for transforming selected driving and parking lanes into dedicated bus lanes and protected bike lanes. I also plan to penalize private car use by raising parking rates and implementing downtown driving tolls.

Housing and growth

If Toronto could make one major housing intervention this term, which should receive the greatest emphasis?

  • Mohammad Shabani
    Build or finance substantially more affordable and supportive housing

    Based on my platform, I would place the greatest emphasis on Public delivery. I reject private subsidies, proposing the "Vienna Model" where the City of Toronto acts as the primary builder of permanently affordable, mixed-income housing on public land. Fast 60 days approval in transit lines (Japan)

What should be Toronto's primary role in delivering affordable and supportive housing?

  • Mohammad Shabani
    Build, acquire and own significantly more housing

    I strongly support city as Direct provider like the "Vienna Model," rejecting private subsidies and proposing that the City of Toronto act as the main builder, owner, and operator of permanently affordable, mixed-income housing on public land.

Where should Toronto permit the greatest increase in housing density?

  • Mohammad Shabani
    Concentrate growth on major streets and near rapid transit

    I would support concentrating growth along corridors and transit. My platform explicitly advocates for the "Tokyo Model" to fast-track housing built near transit, paired with "15-Minute City" rezoning to concentrate apartments, grocery stores, and offices together along neighbourhood blocks.

City government and service delivery

Which change would you implement to reduce the cost of building housing in Toronto?

  • Mohammad Shabani
    Expand as-of-right zoning and automate routine permits

    Rather than focusing on lowering municipal developer fees, my platform advocates for fast-tracking approvals using the "Tokyo Model." This strategy aims to speed up housing construction by establishing automatic, standardized zoning frameworks specifically tailored around transit hubs.

What is the most important change Toronto should make to reduce capital-project delays and cost overruns?

  • Mohammad Shabani
    Prevent councillors from altering scope after approval without identifying funding

    I heavily criticize political gridlock and standard city council maneuvering. Through my E-DEV voting system, I aim to shift major decision-making power directly to the public, preventing city politicians from constantly shifting project scopes or stalling vital infrastructure.

Which service-delivery model should Toronto use more often?

  • Mohammad Shabani
    Expand permanent city staff and internal operational capacity

    I explicitly oppose using public money to subsidize private developers or external corporations. Instead, my "Vienna Model" relies on the City of Toronto expanding its own internal capacity to directly build, own, and operate vital public infrastructure.

Taxes, spending and fiscal sustainability

Over the next council term, residential property-tax revenues should generally:

  • Mohammad Shabani
    Grow more slowly than inflation, requiring service restraint or alternative revenues

    I heavily resists relying on higher consumer taxes. Instead, I propose generating aggressive alternative revenues to improve services, such as implementing downtown road congestion fees and establishing the city-owned Toronto Community Investment Bank.

Which type of additional revenue should Toronto rely on most heavily?

  • Mohammad Shabani
    Congestion charges, tolls, parking levies and service fees

    My campaign actively avoids traditional property tax increases. Instead, I prioritize generating infrastructure funds by penalizing car use through "Downtown Driving Fees" (rush-hour tolls) and significantly raising parking rates.

What should Toronto do first to address its infrastructure repair backlog?

  • Mohammad Shabani
    Introduce a levy or other recurring source reserved for maintenance

    Instead of delaying expansion or selling assets, my strategy relies on aggressively generating new local revenue streams. I propose implementing "Downtown Driving Fees" and creating the Toronto Community Investment Bank to directly fund and clear the city's infrastructure backlog.

Governance and representation

What should be Toronto's primary approach to the provincial government?

  • Mohammad Shabani
    Plan budgets and services on the assumption that substantial new provincial support will not arrive

    Rather than relying on provincial funding or advocacy, my strategy focuses on immediate municipal independence. I propose creating a city-owned Toronto Community Investment Bank and implementing Downtown Driving Fees to generate local revenue and fund infrastructure projects directly.

Strong mayor powers should be used mainly for:

  • Mohammad Shabani
    the powers should sit unused regardless of who holds them

    My platform centers heavily on democratic modernization and local accountability. Through my proposed E-DEV system, I advocate for shifting significant decision-making power directly to the public. Relying on centralized mayoral power is against local transparency and collective, democratic control.

Your ward and your record

Which objective should receive the greatest attention in your ward during the next council term?

  • Mohammad Shabani
    Transit, roads, parks, waste collection and local infrastructure

    My campaign focuses heavily on "fixing local basics" in Ward 19. My top priorities center on direct public investment to repair and expand local infrastructure, including building a Don Valley Crosstown transit line, adding dedicated bus lanes, and upgrading neighborhood corridors.

Which single result should voters use to assess your performance at the end of the term?

  • Mohammad Shabani
    A specific measurable result identified by the candidate

    My campaign is uniquely focused on giving local residents a direct voice via my proposed E-DEV voting system. I would assess my performance based on successfully implementing this decentralized, digital democratic tool to let Ward 19 citizens vote directly on local issues.

    If you selected “Ward commitment,” state one numerical target and a deadline10 Town hall meetings with the residents in every year of my job.

Priorities and trade-offs

Over the next council term, Toronto should:

  • Mohammad Shabani
    Expand the protected cycling network, including projects that remove traffic lanes or parking

    My Transportation Strategy explicitly calls for transforming selected driving lanes and parking spaces into protected bike lanes and dedicated bus lanes. I actively prioritize passenger capacity and cycling infrastructure over private automobile space.

When demonstrations substantially block transportation or access to essential institutions, the city should prioritize:

  • Mohammad Shabani
    Keep major roads, transit, hospitals and essential facilities operating

    While my platform does not explicitly address protest management, my Transportation Strategy centers heavily on keeping city transit, buses, and essential corridors moving efficiently. I oppose disruptions to public transit and prioritize passenger capacity and fluid infrastructure.

Where should Toronto direct its next major technology investment?

  • Mohammad Shabani
    Public data and systems that measure outcomes and hold departments accountable

    My campaign heavily champions democratic modernization and transparency. Through my proposed E-DEV digital voting system, my primary technology focus is giving citizens direct oversight, public data access, and voting control to hold city departments and decisions accountable.

When Toronto faces a structural operating-budget gap, what should it do first?

  • Mohammad Shabani
    Raise taxes, fees or other revenue

    Rather than cutting public services, my platform relies on generating aggressive alternative revenue streams. I explicitly propose balancing municipal budgets by implementing "Downtown Driving Fees" and establishing a city-owned Toronto Community Investment Bank.

What is the most important municipal intervention for improving Toronto's business climate?

  • Mohammad Shabani
    Expand housing, transportation, public safety and infrastructure

    My campaign argues that a healthy economic environment relies on strong public infrastructure. I prioritize direct city investments to expand housing affordability, build new transit lines, and upgrade public safety to create a stable environment for local businesses.

How should Toronto attract major employers, investment and events?

  • Mohammad Shabani
    Housing affordability, transportation, safety and quality of life

    I explicitly reject using public money to subsidize private corporations. Instead, my platform focuses heavily on direct public investment to dramatically improve housing affordability, expand local transportation networks, and secure public safety to organically attract investment.

What should Toronto prioritize to increase construction capacity?

  • Mohammad Shabani
    Encourage modular construction, prefabrication and more efficient building methods

    My platform explicitly lists using modular housing sites to rapidly deliver supportive and accessible spaces. Using prefabrication and modern construction methods helps building mass, permanently affordable public housing without relying on slow, traditional private developer models.

What should receive the greatest priority in Toronto's public-realm budget?

  • Mohammad Shabani
    Cleanliness, roads, sidewalks, snow clearing, washrooms and routine park care

    My campaign is anchored on the core pledge to "fix local basics" in Ward 19. I strongly prioritize everyday necessities—such as clean streets, reliable local infrastructure, and accessible community spaces—over funding a small number of massive, flashy public realm showcase projects.

What should be Toronto's primary tool for supporting arts, culture and nightlife?

  • Mohammad Shabani
    Grants, city facilities and affordable cultural space

    I explicitly advocates for using public funds to build and maintain community spaces under public ownership. My "Vienna Model" framework champions city-owned, non-commodified spaces, and creation of Toronto Community Investment Bank would support using public facilities and grants.

If autonomous taxi services operate in Toronto, which condition should the city prioritize?

  • Mohammad Shabani
    Mandatory reporting on trips, collisions, congestion and curb use

    My platform heavily champions open data, digital transparency, and strict algorithmic governance. Through my E-DEV framework, I advocate that any technology operating on public streets must remain fully accountable, auditable, and transparent to the citizens of Toronto.

Each card is one question, with Mohammad Shabani filed under the answer they gave and their own words underneath it. The other options offered are not shown, nor how the rest of the field answered.

How the whole city answered

Registered candidates from the City Clerk’s official list, refreshed daily. Campaign sites are linked as published by the candidate; a link is not an endorsement.

Everyone running in Beaches-East YorkWhere the whole field stands